For our longtime readers the title above is somewhat of an understatement, even sometimes expected given the flurry of rumors that nearly always precede a new Palm release. Nevertheless, a number of tech sites posted seemingly official announcements of the Palm Treo Pro smartphone earlier this morning, only to quickly withdraw portions of the article citing a premature release by one of Palm's PR agencies.

In any event, new official looking press pictures of the device have been posted and even a video clip (posted after the break), which appear to have been produced by Palm's marketing department. Oddly these items remain online, while the official announcement statements were requested to be taken down. Initial images confirm that the device is essentially identical to the Treo Pro engineering prototype that have recently made the rounds online.

RE: poor marketing

At this point not only does this slip up not matter, it's even beneficial; we've been waiting too long for this product and people have been buying other phones in the meantime (hp 910, Samsung 780, etc.) due to the lack of a official release date for the Treo.

RE: poor marketing

RE: poor marketing

It depends on how long it will be until the 850 is available. If it is more than 60 days from now until someone can actually buy an 850 then I consider these leaks a big problem for Palm. If the 850 is available in the next two to four weeks then the leak could help build some hype.

RE: poor marketing

I/we had read somewhere that that "Pro" wasn't expected to be announced until late September or even early October so yeah, I think these "leaks" are basically responsible for the device anouncement hitting the press a month or so earlier than planned.

I think everyone had generally assumed it to be announced in Sept and begin shipping in October. Of course, that could all have been a smokescreen. Remember, the Centro supposedly launched last fall earlier than anticipated as well.

RE: IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

Just can't figure out why it's always the Windows OS (Operating System) that continues to debut on all the new versions of the PALM HARDWARE, then the Palm OS version come many months later on. I've never even seen a Palm that anyone owns that has the Win OS installed on it.

When I say or hear the Palm Hardware you think of the Palm OS (Operating System), the Software that runs on it - As for "Negativity"? Nothing I wrote is Negative at all, it's just a question of why this is the case now for everything they "PALM" comes out with. If you think a question is a Negative, well then all I can say to you is to F.O.!!!

RE: IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

RE: IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

You guys can kiss and make up now.The centro debuted with palm os and the treo pro doesnt have palm os on it. You were both not right.

I think Palm needs the money right now and needs to tick over to palm os2 next year. I think this is a great product and will appeal to so many people. I can upgrade my phone next month and hope its out in the uk real soon as I think I may get one.

A glimmer of hope

But I must say, I'm actually reasonably excited about this device. I'm finally ready to make the transition to Windows Mobile, after spending waaaay too long sticking with Palm OS. Palm OS is now woefully behind the competition in capability, and I have little faith that their next OS offering is going to surpass the competition (if we ever see it in the first place!)

I'm looking forward to hearing more about it, and I'm hoping that it really will be a leap ahead of current Palm hardware, pretty much in every way.

RE: Who cares?

But- it sez "Palm"!!! And, we're so stupid to our blind brand loyalty that we'll accept anything with the magic word "Palm" on it as if it were a Palm (OS) device.

Palm has won our hearts over the past 11-12 years with their high quality control and excellent customer satisfaction, so naturally if they say that this WinceMob monstrosity is as good or better than the Palm OS then of course - here's MY $500 bucks!!

Hey Palm - there are a hell of a lot of alternatives that are built and supported better than your track record has been. For many of us, the **ONLY** reason we endure your build quality and customer "service" is because you are basically the exclusive vendor of PALM OPERATING SYSTEM devices. You could put a flying car into your WinceMob devices and they'd still be as unusable as WinceMob by any other manufacturer - with the added non-bonus of being built and supported by PALM!

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